In early 1981 the upcoming Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers album (working title: Benmont’s Revenge) was slated to be the next MCA release with the new list price of $9.98, following Steely Dan’s Gaucho and the Olivia Newton-John/Electric Light Orchestra Xanadu soundtrack. This so-called “superstar pricing” was $1.00 more than the usual list price of $8.98. Petty voiced his objections to the price hike in the press and the issue became a popular cause among music fans. Non-delivery of the album or naming it Eight Ninety-Eight were considered but eventually MCA relented and Hard Promises hit the stores a month late on May 5, 1981 (where you could buy it for $5.99 at most places).

Two cars parked on the overpass,
Rocks hit the water like broken glass
I should have known right then it was too good to last
God, it’s such a drag when you’re livin’ in the past